--Under-the-radar NFC players who could be stars in 2022: Neville Gallimore, Darnell Savage headline list
By Patrik Walker
Jun 9, 2022 at 9:10 am ET
Neville Gallimore
DAL • DT • 96
You've heard a lot about the offseason shenanigans involving the loss of Randy Gregory and the near-loss of DeMarcus Lawrence, but what you might've missed is just how much potential exists in Gallimore to become a dominant interior defensive lineman -- which would make it easier on whomever rushes off of the edge on any given snap in Dallas going forward. After seeing most of his sophomore season derailed by a preseason elbow injury, Gallimore is again healthy, and having demonstrated in his return last season that he's capable of being an elite talent (something his rookie film promised), don't be surprised if, in 2022, he becomes a star at The Star.
--Neville Gallimore missed the majority of the 2021 season after suffering a broken elbow in the preseason. In the short time he played, he had more sacks and almost as many pressures as he did playing 14 games his rookie season. Adjusted to a full 17-game schedule, he was on pace for five sacks and 10 pressures. All would have been among the best on the team.
Gallimore has claimed to be over 15 pounds heavier of solid muscle. With the emergence of second-year DT Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys could be looking to keep both on the field together. Together as full-time starters, with Gallimore playing more of the 1-technique nose tackle.
Gallimore shows ability to create pressure and has the athletic ability to make plays. Assuming his health isn’t a factor, seeing him as the nose tackle could turn into one of the best defensive tackle pairs at creating pressure on the QB. A bigger, stronger Gallimonster could spell bad news for opposing guards and centers.
--Cowboys LB Devante Bond suffers season-ending injury during OTAs
by Lauren Barash
The NFL offseason is a time for practice squad members and depth players to prove that they are worth a spot on the roster. Unfortunately, it can also be a time when players get injured. That’s exactly what happened to Dallas Cowboys practice squad linebacker Devante Bond during OTAs.
On Thursday, Bond suffered a knee injury that will require surgery and force him to miss the 2022 season. As of Friday evening, the exact injury had not been revealed to the public. The linebacker spent 2021 on the Cowboys’ practice squad after spending time with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. He signed a reserve/futures contract with Dallas in January.
This is a big blow to an already weak linebacker room. This depth chart suffered majorly last year with both Covid cases and injuries. Obviously, Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons leads the charge. However, Leighton Vander Esch hasn’t been his best self since his first year, Jabril Cox is coming off of a major injury, Luke Gifford mostly contributed on special teams, and Damone Clark could be out the entire year.
Keanu Neal, who was converted to a linebacker, is now on the Bucs and Francis Bernard is still technically a free agent. This leaves cause for concern for this position group.
Bond entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick by the Bucs in the 2016 NFL Draft. In four seasons, he has only started in six games. The LB has 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits to his name since entering the league.
With many changes in the linebacker room and the uncertainty around the edge rusher position, the 28-year-old had a real chance to make the roster this season.
The Cowboys have decisions to make and may see some young linebackers picking up the pieces. Draft pick Devin Harper and UDFAs Storey Jackson and Aaron Hansford have a big opportunity to earn a spot on this roster now.
Hopefully, Bond is able to get himself back on the field in 2023. In the meantime, we wish him a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
--Philadelphia Eagles: Look out for Kennedy Brooks this fall
by Matty Breisch
After turning in some very good games down the stretch in 2021, Jordan Howard is curiously not currently a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
I know, crazy, right? Though Howard didn’t initially make the Eagles’ roster coming out of a solid enough summer, the pride of Indiana/UAB rapidly became a valuable cog in Nick
Sirianni’s offensive machine once he made his in-season debut in Week 8 and played so well that he was signed for the remainder of the season once his practice squad elevation eligibility ran out.
Despite only appearing in seven regular season games last fall, Howard rushed for 406 yards and three touchdowns in his sixth professional season – numbers that ranked third and fourth on the team, respectively.
So what gives? Howard hasn’t signed elsewhere like his crazy tenure in Miami at the start of the 2020 NFL season, and he remains on the open market for the Eagles – or anyone else really – to sign for nothing more than a veteran minimum contract.
Who knows, maybe it’s intentional. Maybe the 27-year-old’s camp is playing hardball and would like to secure their client a bit more job security. Maybe Howard would like a multi-year contract or just some guaranteed money to make another summer of insecurity a bit more palatable and is fine holding out until the Eagles cave.
Or maybe, just maybe, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to go in a different direction and feel confident enough in their depth after signing Kennedy Brooks, Jalen Hurts’ former teammate at the University of Oklahoma, to a three-year contract with $240k guaranteed after failing to hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Who led the NCAA in yards per carry during the 2021 NCAA season? Was it Kenneth Walker III? Or How about Breece Hall? James Cook, the other running back to go in the third round?
None of the above; no, that player was Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks, who just so happens to have joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a UDFA following his non-selection during the 2022 NFL Draft.
A three-time 1,000-yard rusher who finished out his run in Oklahoma with 198 total rushes for 3,320 yards and 13 total touchdowns, Brooks is a hard back to tie down into any one category. He’s good between the tackles and can punch through holes on his way to the second level of the defense but is just as effective running outside, especially in a read-option like the one he ran with Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts at OU. While his long speed is only average, his change-of-direction ability is actually pretty good, as is his ability to set up would-be tackers like a point guard in the pick-and-roll to avoid contact before it even arrives.
If Brooks was a few inches taller and weighed in right around 240, he probably would have been drafted in the middle of Day 3 by some RB-needy team looking for a power back between the tackles, but because he only clocked in at 5-foot-11, 209 pounds at the combine – which are very average numbers by NFL standards – fans outside of Norman largely overlooked the Oklahoma product during the predraft process.
Fortunately, the Eagles don’t really need an every-down back who can take 30 carries between the tackles 17 times over 18 weeks or a pass-catching specialist capable of being a three-down performer; they already have those spots filled. No, what the Eagles really need is another rusher who can rotate in with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell, especially if he can truck a little bit in a congested area.
As a UDFA, Brooks fits that bill pretty darn well.
Who knows, maybe Jordan Howard is just on vacation and will sign with the Philadelphia Eagles after the weekend? His performances were objectively good last season, and at just 27, he has plenty of good football left to play. But if he signs elsewhere, or the Eagles simply want to go with a younger player on a very affordable three-year deal, they could do a whole heck of a lot worse than Kennedy Brooks, who really should have been drafted based on his highlight reel alone.
--New York Giants 2022 Training Camp Roster Preview: FB Jeremiah Hall
Will the Giants take on a fullback in their offense, and if so, what can Jeremiah Hall offer in that role?
BRANDON OLSEN JUN 21, 2022
Jeremiah Hall, throughout his college career, was one of the most versatile fullback/tight end weapons in the nation. Hall has plenty of experience, as he’s played more than 350 snaps in three straight years as a starter at Oklahoma.
Hall would line up all over the formation for the Sooners, being used as a halfback, fullback, tight end, and occasional slot receiver. The usage of Hall in college was very similar to the usage of Buffalo Bills fullback Reggie Gilliam in 2020 and 2021 when that offense was orchestrated by current Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
Hall proved himself to be a reliable contributor on offense and special teams as a renaissance man for the Sooners. Hall is also the host of The Prairie Pod with former Oklahoma teammate Brayden Willis.
With the Giants having moved on from Eli Penny, can Hall be in and bring more to the table?
What He Offers
Offensively, Hall offers the type of versatility that is rare in modern college offenses. For years, Hall has proven himself to be the type of fullback/tight end hybrid that consistently contributed as a blocker, rusher, and receiver.
In his three years in Norman, Hall was targeted 77 times and finished with 68 catches, a remarkably efficient clip. He averaged 11.1 yards per reception and scored 12 times through the air, with his one drop in his career coming in his freshman season. More than half of Hall’s career receiving yards came after the catch, proving to be a viable run-after-catch threat.
As a runner, Hall only saw 13 carries but averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored his only career touchdown on the ground in his senior season. Of the 51 yards Hall picked up on the ground in his career, 43 came after contact.
So far, Hall has been a bit of a Swiss army knife type of fullback/tight end that has been good at everything he’s been asked to do; that said, he hasn’t excelled in one particular area outside of positional versatility.
Hall has been relied upon consistently as both a run and pass-blocker, with 65.6% of his offensive snaps in college coming as a blocker.
Athletically, Hall tested very poorly at the 2022 NFL Combine, running a 4.96 40-yard dash with a 4.62 short shuttle. However, that shouldn’t be a concern, as most fullbacks aren’t relied upon enough to work vertically downfield.
Hall has contributed to every special teams unit besides trying to block field goals and extra points, further adding to his value.
His Contract
Hall was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 draft. He signed a three-year contract worth $2.575 million with just $30,000 guaranteed. Hall will have base salaries of $705,000 in 2022, $870,000 in 2023, and $985,000 in 2024.
If the Giants were to release Jeremiah Hall at this point, they would clear up $680,000 in cap space while taking a dead cap hit of just $30,000. Corker takes up just .34% of the salary cap for the Giants in 2022.
Roster Projection/Expectations
There should be little-to-no doubt about Hall’s ability to contribute to the Giants' roster, given his versatility, skillset, contract, and the opening at fullback.
Hall could be a practice squad player, but the expectation for Hall to have a similar career trajectory to Reggie Gilliam as a rookie fullback/special teamer that eventually becomes a player who contributes as a fullback, tight end, special teamer, and H-back isn’t out of the question.
Hall gives Daboll one of the most versatile offensive weapons available in undrafted free agency on a cheap contract that could pay dividends if he works out. There is no real competition for Hall at fullback; it’s more about whether the Giants want to keep a fullback on the roster for 2022.
--4 UDFAs with best shot at making Commanders; Roster
Guard Tyrese Robinson
Washington offensive line coach John Matsko is one of the best in the business. And he loves to find unheralded offensive linemen every year and mold them into contributors. In Norwell and Turner, Washington signed two players who Matsko helped turn into future Pro Bowl players. Norwell was undrafted out of Ohio State in 2014, while Turner was a third-round pick in that same draft.
Tyrese Robinson is a 6-foot-3, 317-pound guard with plenty of college football experience at Oklahoma. Robinson was a three-year starter for the Sooners, playing right guard and right tackle. The Commanders view him as a guard.
The preseason will be a big test for Robinson. Washington selected guard Chris Paul in the seventh round, and the Commanders like him. Don’t be shocked if they also keep Robinson. It would be cheap, capable depth with solid upsides.
--Projected Lions 53-amn Roster after OTAs/minicamp
Special teams (3)
Starters: Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS), Austin Seibert (K)
Out: Riley Patterson (K)
Erik: Fox and Daly aren’t facing any competition for their jobs, making those decisions easy. But I’m going to need to see a lot more of the kicker battle before making a definitive decision on who the front runner is. In fact, on the days I was in Allen Park, neither player attempted a field goal, so the decision to keep Seibert rested solely with Jeremy. So, what made this decision for you?
Jeremy: Seibert has simply been more consistent than Patterson all offseason, and significantly so. It was the same in college, where Seibert made 79.7 percent of his kicks, while Patterson was at 77.1. Neither has been very good from long distance in their career, but at this point, I simply trust Seibert more.
--What Does Gabe Brkic's Arrival Mean For Mason Crosby?
By Matt Hendershott - June 15, 2022
In case anyone wasn’t aware, the Green Bay Packers were really, really bad at special teams last season.
They’ve been bad in most seasons, but last season was particularly terrible. The offense deserves a share of the blame, too. But special teams cost the team a deep playoff run thanks to sheer incompetence against the San Francisco 49ers.
Every aspect of that dreadful unit was terrible. Even the usually reliable Mason Crosby regressed significantly. Crosby led the league in misses just a year after not missing a single field goal. The holding situation wasn’t great, and the long snappers weren’t good, but Crosby isn’t blameless.
With a new coordinator in Rich Bisaccia and Crosby having a relatively high cap number for a kicker ($4,735,000 in 2022, according to Spotrac), it was fair to wonder if Crosby could be a cap causality. But the Packers found other ways to become cap compliant, and Bisaccia is content to let a kicking competition play out.
“I’d like to see all three before we make a decision,” Bisaccia said in April, referring to Crosby, JJ Molson (who spent all of 2021 on Green Bay’s practice squad), and Dominik Eberle (who worked with Bicaccia in Vegas).
Crosby outlasted the other two, even after not kicking during mandatory minicamp. But Green Bay recently picked up former Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic from the Minnesota Vikings on waivers, and the rookie kicker could be Crosby’s biggest competition yet. Can Crosby outlast the rookie?
Brkic isn’t just a random camp leg — he was one of the top collegiate kickers who declared for the NFL. A Lou Groza semifinalist in his redshirt freshman and sophomore years and a finalist as a redshirt junior, Brkic was consistently recognized as one of the top kickers in the nation. His five field goals over 50 yards in 2021 led the nation.
Brkic was viewed as the second-best kicker in this draft class, and, surprisingly, he wasn’t drafted on Day 3. Only LSU’s Cade York, who went to the Browns in the fourth round, was ranked ahead of Brkic.
The former Sooner was a very similar prospect to Crosby when the latter left Colorado. Per Brian Maafi, who covered kickers for the CheeseheadTV NFL Draft Guide:
“He has a cannon for a leg but struggled with accuracy in 2020 and 2021. On deeper kicks, he had eight misses on 25 attempts from 40-plus from 2020–21. For a guy with his leg strength, he should be getting more touchbacks. This all points to either a mechanical issue or a confidence problem.”
Also, his name looks like brrr-kick, which just gives off the perfect vibe for kicking in Lambeau Field.
With monstrous leg strength and correctable issues, Brkic could become a threatening kicker in the future. Would Green Bay choose to bank on his raw ability and Bisaccia’s well-regarded coaching and gamble on the rookie over Crosby?
It seems unlikely, but with a fresh take on special teams, it’s anyone’s guess. Bisaccia is a respected outsider who will bring a new perspective and may want to find his own guy. He’s already brought in a new punter (Pat O’Donnell, who spent most of this off-season living in Crosby’s basement). The team brought in Jack Coco to compete at long snapper. Bisaccia could choose to replace all three specialists.
Or he could hope Crosby follows his tradition of bouncing back after off years. Crosby had a similarly awful year in 2012 before rebounding in 2013 and starting a successful run that led him to become Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer. Crosby has also consistently beat out any competition brought in to try to push him from his job.
Despite his down year, Crosby had some specular highlights, including a beautiful game-winner against San Francisco in Week 3. In Week 5, he and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson played the wildest game of kicker vs. kicker all time, but Crosby beat the rookie to win the game. It’s hard to find a reliable kicker in today’s NFL (something, something Vikings).
In Crosby’s favor, he’ll have plenty of time to build chemistry with his teammates through training camp. Last season, Corey Bojorquez joined the team just before the start of the regular season, and the two never built chemistry in the holding operation. Conversely, Crosby has spent the summer living with his punter. The chemistry should be much better.
And Brkic didn’t do enough to stick around in Minnesota, despite his pedigree, which could mean he isn’t quite ready for an NFL starting job. Or he could be a legend in waiting. You never know with Vikings kickers.
Crosby is still the favorite to kick some balls for Green Bay in Week 1. But it’s a new regime with a celebrated coach, and Brkic is likely the most decorated competition Crosby has had. It’s anyone’s guess how things will play out.
--Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown rekindling college connection in Arizona
Published: Jun 16, 2022 at 08:21 AM
Kevin Patra
Around the NFL Writer
Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown gobbled up yards by the heapful in their final year together at Oklahoma in 2018, with the wideout generating 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games.
Now they're reunited in Year 4 of their NFL careers after the Arizona Cardinals traded for the receiver during the first round of the 2022 draft.
"It's going to be a good relationship there. The way they work out together throughout the offseason, there's already that bond," Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said this week, via Tyler Dragon of USA Today Sports. "I think once we get to training camp and Hollywood gets comfortable in our system and isn't thinking as much, I think it's really going to take off. But they definitely, you can tell, have a connection."
With DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games of the season, Brown's presence is vital for the Cards. Murray struggled sans Hopkins on the field last season. And with Christian Kirk signing a big-money deal in Jacksonville, there was a massive hole in Arizona until the Brown trade.
Despite playing in a run-first offense in Baltimore, Brown still produced, generating 2,361 yards and 21 TDs over three seasons -- the only WR in Ravens history to hit those marks in three seasons.
Now playing in a pass-heavy scheme in Arizona, Brown has a chance to show off his talent.
"I feel like I can definitely help the team in the role that I'm asked to do here. I helped the Ravens as well, but it's really about what's the philosophy of the team," Brown said. "Just the attack mentality. We are trying to put points up, and that's what I love."
The biggest criticism when the trade went down wasn't Brown's fit in Arizona or his talent but rather a philosophical question of whether it's a smart team-building plan to trade a first-round pick -- under team control for five seasons on a favorable contract -- for a receiver who is entering Year 4 and will be in line for an extension soon in an exploding market for receivers.
Instead of using that first-round pick on an unknown commodity, the Cards traded for someone they know can produce in the NFL and kept their star quarterback happy in the process.
Kingsbury said the club hopes to eventually lock Brown down for the long term.
"Yeah, we'd love to get it done," Kingsbury said when asked about an extension. "Hollywood is a guy that we see as a long-term answer."
--Tre Brown, Marquise Blair May Not Be Ready For Start of Seahawks Training Camp
CORBIN K. SMITHJUN 11, 2022
Though the Seahawks won't report for training camp for another six weeks, there's a chance a couple of key contributors in the secondary won't be quite ready to return to the field coming off of injuries.
After wrapping up their mandatory minicamp on Thursday, coach Pete Carroll hinted to reporters that cornerback Tre Brown and safety Marquise Blair may be candidates to start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Both players were in attendance at minicamp all three days but did not participate in walkthroughs or practice.
“We have to see how Tre Brown is, Tre Brown's still coming back," Carroll said. "Also, Marquise Blair we have to make sure, I don't know, it's going to be a race. He thinks he's going to make it, but it'll be a race against the clock a little bit there and we'll see how it goes."
Seeing his first action on defense during a Week 6 loss to the Steelers, Brown performed well in his first action as a rookie, quickly vaulting into the starting lineup across from D.J. Reed at left cornerback. In five games and three starts, the fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma allowed only eight receptions on 17 targets, yielded no touchdowns, and allowed a mediocre 59.7 passer rating.
Unfortunately, Brown's stellar rookie campaign came to an abrupt end when he injured his patellar tendon while defending Cardinals receiver A.J. Green on a go route in a Week 11 loss at Lumen Field. He underwent surgery shortly after and missed the remainder of the season.
By Patrik Walker
Jun 9, 2022 at 9:10 am ET
Neville Gallimore
DAL • DT • 96
You've heard a lot about the offseason shenanigans involving the loss of Randy Gregory and the near-loss of DeMarcus Lawrence, but what you might've missed is just how much potential exists in Gallimore to become a dominant interior defensive lineman -- which would make it easier on whomever rushes off of the edge on any given snap in Dallas going forward. After seeing most of his sophomore season derailed by a preseason elbow injury, Gallimore is again healthy, and having demonstrated in his return last season that he's capable of being an elite talent (something his rookie film promised), don't be surprised if, in 2022, he becomes a star at The Star.
--Neville Gallimore missed the majority of the 2021 season after suffering a broken elbow in the preseason. In the short time he played, he had more sacks and almost as many pressures as he did playing 14 games his rookie season. Adjusted to a full 17-game schedule, he was on pace for five sacks and 10 pressures. All would have been among the best on the team.
Gallimore has claimed to be over 15 pounds heavier of solid muscle. With the emergence of second-year DT Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys could be looking to keep both on the field together. Together as full-time starters, with Gallimore playing more of the 1-technique nose tackle.
Gallimore shows ability to create pressure and has the athletic ability to make plays. Assuming his health isn’t a factor, seeing him as the nose tackle could turn into one of the best defensive tackle pairs at creating pressure on the QB. A bigger, stronger Gallimonster could spell bad news for opposing guards and centers.
--Cowboys LB Devante Bond suffers season-ending injury during OTAs
by Lauren Barash
The NFL offseason is a time for practice squad members and depth players to prove that they are worth a spot on the roster. Unfortunately, it can also be a time when players get injured. That’s exactly what happened to Dallas Cowboys practice squad linebacker Devante Bond during OTAs.
On Thursday, Bond suffered a knee injury that will require surgery and force him to miss the 2022 season. As of Friday evening, the exact injury had not been revealed to the public. The linebacker spent 2021 on the Cowboys’ practice squad after spending time with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. He signed a reserve/futures contract with Dallas in January.
This is a big blow to an already weak linebacker room. This depth chart suffered majorly last year with both Covid cases and injuries. Obviously, Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons leads the charge. However, Leighton Vander Esch hasn’t been his best self since his first year, Jabril Cox is coming off of a major injury, Luke Gifford mostly contributed on special teams, and Damone Clark could be out the entire year.
Keanu Neal, who was converted to a linebacker, is now on the Bucs and Francis Bernard is still technically a free agent. This leaves cause for concern for this position group.
Bond entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick by the Bucs in the 2016 NFL Draft. In four seasons, he has only started in six games. The LB has 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits to his name since entering the league.
With many changes in the linebacker room and the uncertainty around the edge rusher position, the 28-year-old had a real chance to make the roster this season.
The Cowboys have decisions to make and may see some young linebackers picking up the pieces. Draft pick Devin Harper and UDFAs Storey Jackson and Aaron Hansford have a big opportunity to earn a spot on this roster now.
Hopefully, Bond is able to get himself back on the field in 2023. In the meantime, we wish him a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
--Philadelphia Eagles: Look out for Kennedy Brooks this fall
by Matty Breisch
After turning in some very good games down the stretch in 2021, Jordan Howard is curiously not currently a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
I know, crazy, right? Though Howard didn’t initially make the Eagles’ roster coming out of a solid enough summer, the pride of Indiana/UAB rapidly became a valuable cog in Nick
Sirianni’s offensive machine once he made his in-season debut in Week 8 and played so well that he was signed for the remainder of the season once his practice squad elevation eligibility ran out.
Despite only appearing in seven regular season games last fall, Howard rushed for 406 yards and three touchdowns in his sixth professional season – numbers that ranked third and fourth on the team, respectively.
So what gives? Howard hasn’t signed elsewhere like his crazy tenure in Miami at the start of the 2020 NFL season, and he remains on the open market for the Eagles – or anyone else really – to sign for nothing more than a veteran minimum contract.
Who knows, maybe it’s intentional. Maybe the 27-year-old’s camp is playing hardball and would like to secure their client a bit more job security. Maybe Howard would like a multi-year contract or just some guaranteed money to make another summer of insecurity a bit more palatable and is fine holding out until the Eagles cave.
Or maybe, just maybe, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to go in a different direction and feel confident enough in their depth after signing Kennedy Brooks, Jalen Hurts’ former teammate at the University of Oklahoma, to a three-year contract with $240k guaranteed after failing to hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Who led the NCAA in yards per carry during the 2021 NCAA season? Was it Kenneth Walker III? Or How about Breece Hall? James Cook, the other running back to go in the third round?
None of the above; no, that player was Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks, who just so happens to have joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a UDFA following his non-selection during the 2022 NFL Draft.
A three-time 1,000-yard rusher who finished out his run in Oklahoma with 198 total rushes for 3,320 yards and 13 total touchdowns, Brooks is a hard back to tie down into any one category. He’s good between the tackles and can punch through holes on his way to the second level of the defense but is just as effective running outside, especially in a read-option like the one he ran with Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts at OU. While his long speed is only average, his change-of-direction ability is actually pretty good, as is his ability to set up would-be tackers like a point guard in the pick-and-roll to avoid contact before it even arrives.
If Brooks was a few inches taller and weighed in right around 240, he probably would have been drafted in the middle of Day 3 by some RB-needy team looking for a power back between the tackles, but because he only clocked in at 5-foot-11, 209 pounds at the combine – which are very average numbers by NFL standards – fans outside of Norman largely overlooked the Oklahoma product during the predraft process.
Fortunately, the Eagles don’t really need an every-down back who can take 30 carries between the tackles 17 times over 18 weeks or a pass-catching specialist capable of being a three-down performer; they already have those spots filled. No, what the Eagles really need is another rusher who can rotate in with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell, especially if he can truck a little bit in a congested area.
As a UDFA, Brooks fits that bill pretty darn well.
Who knows, maybe Jordan Howard is just on vacation and will sign with the Philadelphia Eagles after the weekend? His performances were objectively good last season, and at just 27, he has plenty of good football left to play. But if he signs elsewhere, or the Eagles simply want to go with a younger player on a very affordable three-year deal, they could do a whole heck of a lot worse than Kennedy Brooks, who really should have been drafted based on his highlight reel alone.
--New York Giants 2022 Training Camp Roster Preview: FB Jeremiah Hall
Will the Giants take on a fullback in their offense, and if so, what can Jeremiah Hall offer in that role?
BRANDON OLSEN JUN 21, 2022
Jeremiah Hall, throughout his college career, was one of the most versatile fullback/tight end weapons in the nation. Hall has plenty of experience, as he’s played more than 350 snaps in three straight years as a starter at Oklahoma.
Hall would line up all over the formation for the Sooners, being used as a halfback, fullback, tight end, and occasional slot receiver. The usage of Hall in college was very similar to the usage of Buffalo Bills fullback Reggie Gilliam in 2020 and 2021 when that offense was orchestrated by current Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
Hall proved himself to be a reliable contributor on offense and special teams as a renaissance man for the Sooners. Hall is also the host of The Prairie Pod with former Oklahoma teammate Brayden Willis.
With the Giants having moved on from Eli Penny, can Hall be in and bring more to the table?
What He Offers
Offensively, Hall offers the type of versatility that is rare in modern college offenses. For years, Hall has proven himself to be the type of fullback/tight end hybrid that consistently contributed as a blocker, rusher, and receiver.
In his three years in Norman, Hall was targeted 77 times and finished with 68 catches, a remarkably efficient clip. He averaged 11.1 yards per reception and scored 12 times through the air, with his one drop in his career coming in his freshman season. More than half of Hall’s career receiving yards came after the catch, proving to be a viable run-after-catch threat.
As a runner, Hall only saw 13 carries but averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored his only career touchdown on the ground in his senior season. Of the 51 yards Hall picked up on the ground in his career, 43 came after contact.
So far, Hall has been a bit of a Swiss army knife type of fullback/tight end that has been good at everything he’s been asked to do; that said, he hasn’t excelled in one particular area outside of positional versatility.
Hall has been relied upon consistently as both a run and pass-blocker, with 65.6% of his offensive snaps in college coming as a blocker.
Athletically, Hall tested very poorly at the 2022 NFL Combine, running a 4.96 40-yard dash with a 4.62 short shuttle. However, that shouldn’t be a concern, as most fullbacks aren’t relied upon enough to work vertically downfield.
Hall has contributed to every special teams unit besides trying to block field goals and extra points, further adding to his value.
His Contract
Hall was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 draft. He signed a three-year contract worth $2.575 million with just $30,000 guaranteed. Hall will have base salaries of $705,000 in 2022, $870,000 in 2023, and $985,000 in 2024.
If the Giants were to release Jeremiah Hall at this point, they would clear up $680,000 in cap space while taking a dead cap hit of just $30,000. Corker takes up just .34% of the salary cap for the Giants in 2022.
Roster Projection/Expectations
There should be little-to-no doubt about Hall’s ability to contribute to the Giants' roster, given his versatility, skillset, contract, and the opening at fullback.
Hall could be a practice squad player, but the expectation for Hall to have a similar career trajectory to Reggie Gilliam as a rookie fullback/special teamer that eventually becomes a player who contributes as a fullback, tight end, special teamer, and H-back isn’t out of the question.
Hall gives Daboll one of the most versatile offensive weapons available in undrafted free agency on a cheap contract that could pay dividends if he works out. There is no real competition for Hall at fullback; it’s more about whether the Giants want to keep a fullback on the roster for 2022.
--4 UDFAs with best shot at making Commanders; Roster
Guard Tyrese Robinson
Washington offensive line coach John Matsko is one of the best in the business. And he loves to find unheralded offensive linemen every year and mold them into contributors. In Norwell and Turner, Washington signed two players who Matsko helped turn into future Pro Bowl players. Norwell was undrafted out of Ohio State in 2014, while Turner was a third-round pick in that same draft.
Tyrese Robinson is a 6-foot-3, 317-pound guard with plenty of college football experience at Oklahoma. Robinson was a three-year starter for the Sooners, playing right guard and right tackle. The Commanders view him as a guard.
The preseason will be a big test for Robinson. Washington selected guard Chris Paul in the seventh round, and the Commanders like him. Don’t be shocked if they also keep Robinson. It would be cheap, capable depth with solid upsides.
--Projected Lions 53-amn Roster after OTAs/minicamp
Special teams (3)
Starters: Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS), Austin Seibert (K)
Out: Riley Patterson (K)
Erik: Fox and Daly aren’t facing any competition for their jobs, making those decisions easy. But I’m going to need to see a lot more of the kicker battle before making a definitive decision on who the front runner is. In fact, on the days I was in Allen Park, neither player attempted a field goal, so the decision to keep Seibert rested solely with Jeremy. So, what made this decision for you?
Jeremy: Seibert has simply been more consistent than Patterson all offseason, and significantly so. It was the same in college, where Seibert made 79.7 percent of his kicks, while Patterson was at 77.1. Neither has been very good from long distance in their career, but at this point, I simply trust Seibert more.
--What Does Gabe Brkic's Arrival Mean For Mason Crosby?
By Matt Hendershott - June 15, 2022
In case anyone wasn’t aware, the Green Bay Packers were really, really bad at special teams last season.
They’ve been bad in most seasons, but last season was particularly terrible. The offense deserves a share of the blame, too. But special teams cost the team a deep playoff run thanks to sheer incompetence against the San Francisco 49ers.
Every aspect of that dreadful unit was terrible. Even the usually reliable Mason Crosby regressed significantly. Crosby led the league in misses just a year after not missing a single field goal. The holding situation wasn’t great, and the long snappers weren’t good, but Crosby isn’t blameless.
With a new coordinator in Rich Bisaccia and Crosby having a relatively high cap number for a kicker ($4,735,000 in 2022, according to Spotrac), it was fair to wonder if Crosby could be a cap causality. But the Packers found other ways to become cap compliant, and Bisaccia is content to let a kicking competition play out.
“I’d like to see all three before we make a decision,” Bisaccia said in April, referring to Crosby, JJ Molson (who spent all of 2021 on Green Bay’s practice squad), and Dominik Eberle (who worked with Bicaccia in Vegas).
Crosby outlasted the other two, even after not kicking during mandatory minicamp. But Green Bay recently picked up former Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic from the Minnesota Vikings on waivers, and the rookie kicker could be Crosby’s biggest competition yet. Can Crosby outlast the rookie?
Brkic isn’t just a random camp leg — he was one of the top collegiate kickers who declared for the NFL. A Lou Groza semifinalist in his redshirt freshman and sophomore years and a finalist as a redshirt junior, Brkic was consistently recognized as one of the top kickers in the nation. His five field goals over 50 yards in 2021 led the nation.
Brkic was viewed as the second-best kicker in this draft class, and, surprisingly, he wasn’t drafted on Day 3. Only LSU’s Cade York, who went to the Browns in the fourth round, was ranked ahead of Brkic.
The former Sooner was a very similar prospect to Crosby when the latter left Colorado. Per Brian Maafi, who covered kickers for the CheeseheadTV NFL Draft Guide:
“He has a cannon for a leg but struggled with accuracy in 2020 and 2021. On deeper kicks, he had eight misses on 25 attempts from 40-plus from 2020–21. For a guy with his leg strength, he should be getting more touchbacks. This all points to either a mechanical issue or a confidence problem.”
Also, his name looks like brrr-kick, which just gives off the perfect vibe for kicking in Lambeau Field.
With monstrous leg strength and correctable issues, Brkic could become a threatening kicker in the future. Would Green Bay choose to bank on his raw ability and Bisaccia’s well-regarded coaching and gamble on the rookie over Crosby?
It seems unlikely, but with a fresh take on special teams, it’s anyone’s guess. Bisaccia is a respected outsider who will bring a new perspective and may want to find his own guy. He’s already brought in a new punter (Pat O’Donnell, who spent most of this off-season living in Crosby’s basement). The team brought in Jack Coco to compete at long snapper. Bisaccia could choose to replace all three specialists.
Or he could hope Crosby follows his tradition of bouncing back after off years. Crosby had a similarly awful year in 2012 before rebounding in 2013 and starting a successful run that led him to become Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer. Crosby has also consistently beat out any competition brought in to try to push him from his job.
Despite his down year, Crosby had some specular highlights, including a beautiful game-winner against San Francisco in Week 3. In Week 5, he and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson played the wildest game of kicker vs. kicker all time, but Crosby beat the rookie to win the game. It’s hard to find a reliable kicker in today’s NFL (something, something Vikings).
In Crosby’s favor, he’ll have plenty of time to build chemistry with his teammates through training camp. Last season, Corey Bojorquez joined the team just before the start of the regular season, and the two never built chemistry in the holding operation. Conversely, Crosby has spent the summer living with his punter. The chemistry should be much better.
And Brkic didn’t do enough to stick around in Minnesota, despite his pedigree, which could mean he isn’t quite ready for an NFL starting job. Or he could be a legend in waiting. You never know with Vikings kickers.
Crosby is still the favorite to kick some balls for Green Bay in Week 1. But it’s a new regime with a celebrated coach, and Brkic is likely the most decorated competition Crosby has had. It’s anyone’s guess how things will play out.
--Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown rekindling college connection in Arizona
Published: Jun 16, 2022 at 08:21 AM
Kevin Patra
Around the NFL Writer
Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown gobbled up yards by the heapful in their final year together at Oklahoma in 2018, with the wideout generating 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games.
Now they're reunited in Year 4 of their NFL careers after the Arizona Cardinals traded for the receiver during the first round of the 2022 draft.
"It's going to be a good relationship there. The way they work out together throughout the offseason, there's already that bond," Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said this week, via Tyler Dragon of USA Today Sports. "I think once we get to training camp and Hollywood gets comfortable in our system and isn't thinking as much, I think it's really going to take off. But they definitely, you can tell, have a connection."
With DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games of the season, Brown's presence is vital for the Cards. Murray struggled sans Hopkins on the field last season. And with Christian Kirk signing a big-money deal in Jacksonville, there was a massive hole in Arizona until the Brown trade.
Despite playing in a run-first offense in Baltimore, Brown still produced, generating 2,361 yards and 21 TDs over three seasons -- the only WR in Ravens history to hit those marks in three seasons.
Now playing in a pass-heavy scheme in Arizona, Brown has a chance to show off his talent.
"I feel like I can definitely help the team in the role that I'm asked to do here. I helped the Ravens as well, but it's really about what's the philosophy of the team," Brown said. "Just the attack mentality. We are trying to put points up, and that's what I love."
The biggest criticism when the trade went down wasn't Brown's fit in Arizona or his talent but rather a philosophical question of whether it's a smart team-building plan to trade a first-round pick -- under team control for five seasons on a favorable contract -- for a receiver who is entering Year 4 and will be in line for an extension soon in an exploding market for receivers.
Instead of using that first-round pick on an unknown commodity, the Cards traded for someone they know can produce in the NFL and kept their star quarterback happy in the process.
Kingsbury said the club hopes to eventually lock Brown down for the long term.
"Yeah, we'd love to get it done," Kingsbury said when asked about an extension. "Hollywood is a guy that we see as a long-term answer."
--Tre Brown, Marquise Blair May Not Be Ready For Start of Seahawks Training Camp
CORBIN K. SMITHJUN 11, 2022
Though the Seahawks won't report for training camp for another six weeks, there's a chance a couple of key contributors in the secondary won't be quite ready to return to the field coming off of injuries.
After wrapping up their mandatory minicamp on Thursday, coach Pete Carroll hinted to reporters that cornerback Tre Brown and safety Marquise Blair may be candidates to start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Both players were in attendance at minicamp all three days but did not participate in walkthroughs or practice.
“We have to see how Tre Brown is, Tre Brown's still coming back," Carroll said. "Also, Marquise Blair we have to make sure, I don't know, it's going to be a race. He thinks he's going to make it, but it'll be a race against the clock a little bit there and we'll see how it goes."
Seeing his first action on defense during a Week 6 loss to the Steelers, Brown performed well in his first action as a rookie, quickly vaulting into the starting lineup across from D.J. Reed at left cornerback. In five games and three starts, the fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma allowed only eight receptions on 17 targets, yielded no touchdowns, and allowed a mediocre 59.7 passer rating.
Unfortunately, Brown's stellar rookie campaign came to an abrupt end when he injured his patellar tendon while defending Cardinals receiver A.J. Green on a go route in a Week 11 loss at Lumen Field. He underwent surgery shortly after and missed the remainder of the season.
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